The Correlation Between Implicit And Explicit Racial Attitudes
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology and Sociology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there was a direct correlation between implicit and explicit racial attitudes. Racial biases are prevalent in many aspects of life, they are difficult to control and sometimes people are not even aware of these thoughts. The results from this study could help educate people about these racial disparities and reduce the harmful effects these attitudes may be exerting. In this study, participants are administered an Implicit Associations Test (IAT), that measures a persons implicit bias. The test is designed to detect the strength of a person’s automatic association between mental representations of objects in memory. In the racial IAT, words with both negative and positive connotations flash on the screen along with images of Caucasian and African American people. Participants are supposed to respond as quickly as possible without thinking, if the response time is too slow, there will be no results and the participant will be asked to retest. The hypothesis is if human subjects are given an Implicit Associations Test (IAT), then the results will indicate a direct correlation between implicit and explicit racial attitudes and a stronger preference for a persons’ own race/ethnicity will be shown. The results showed significance and supported the hypothesis. In conclusion, this experiment could prove helpful in the field of psychology because further knowledge of these implicit biases and how they correlate to explicit attitudes can be used to prevent the exertion of harmful effects.
Recommended Citation
Price, Olivia C., "The Correlation Between Implicit And Explicit Racial Attitudes" (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 193.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/193
Start Date
4-11-2015 2:00 PM
End Date
4-11-2015 2:15 PM
The Correlation Between Implicit And Explicit Racial Attitudes
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there was a direct correlation between implicit and explicit racial attitudes. Racial biases are prevalent in many aspects of life, they are difficult to control and sometimes people are not even aware of these thoughts. The results from this study could help educate people about these racial disparities and reduce the harmful effects these attitudes may be exerting. In this study, participants are administered an Implicit Associations Test (IAT), that measures a persons implicit bias. The test is designed to detect the strength of a person’s automatic association between mental representations of objects in memory. In the racial IAT, words with both negative and positive connotations flash on the screen along with images of Caucasian and African American people. Participants are supposed to respond as quickly as possible without thinking, if the response time is too slow, there will be no results and the participant will be asked to retest. The hypothesis is if human subjects are given an Implicit Associations Test (IAT), then the results will indicate a direct correlation between implicit and explicit racial attitudes and a stronger preference for a persons’ own race/ethnicity will be shown. The results showed significance and supported the hypothesis. In conclusion, this experiment could prove helpful in the field of psychology because further knowledge of these implicit biases and how they correlate to explicit attitudes can be used to prevent the exertion of harmful effects.
